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Dump Truck Drops Hundreds of Pounds of Rocks on Highway

Salem-News.com

The leaking load struck an OSP patrol car on Highway 99E north of Canby.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

(CANBY, Ore.) - Traffic on Highway 99E north of Canby ground to a halt Friday morning after several hundred pounds of carbon rock spilled from a semi truck trailer and struck an Oregon State Police patrol car traveling in the opposite direction.

The patrol car only received minor damage and the southbound lanes were closed two hours for cleanup, OSP Spokesman Greg Hastings said.

OSP Trooper Jason Lindland was patrolling northbound on Highway 99E near milepost 18 around 10:15 AM Hastings said, when a partial load of carbon rock unexpectedly began dumping out of the back of a moving southbound dump trailer onto the highway.

"Trooper Lindland's patrol car was struck by several rocks of various sizes as he drove by before being able to turn around. No other vehicles are known to have been struck.

The truck's driver, 30-year old Jason M. Booth of Salem, saw the spilling rock after passing the OSP patrol car and pulled onto the shoulder before more rocks spilled. The dump trailer was transporting about 32,000 pounds of carbon rock when the dump trailer gate became unlatched resulting in the rock spilling out of the trailer.

Hastings said Lindland subsequently cited Booth for a "Leaking/Sifting Load".

"Approximately two-tenths of a mile of southbound lanes were partially covered by the rocks. ODOT personnel and equipment responded to the scene for cleanup."